Park Service grant to help trail project

Sunday

Feb 9, 2014 at 12:01 AM

The National Park Service will help more than 350 communities, including Milford, improve local parks, establish trails, access rivers, and protect special places through its Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program this year.

The National Park Service will help more than 350 communities, including Milford, improve local parks, establish trails, access rivers, and protect special places through its Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program this year.

The program helps Americans get outdoors, National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said.

Every year, the National Park Service makes technical assistance grants to community groups, nonprofits, tribes and state and local governments. Local leaders collaborate with National Park Service staff and other partners to plan trails and parks, conserve and improve access to rivers and natural areas, and create other outdoor recreation opportunities, the NPS said.

Although budget problems in 2013 caused the closing of some river accesses, this program will not address river access locally.

Instead, this program grant will go to the Milford Experimental Forest Public Trail Project in partnership with the Grey Towers Heritage Association.

The goal of this project is to develop a 3-mile trail connecting the McDade trail in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area with the Delaware State Forest trail system in Milford; provide educational and recreational experiences for school groups; and provide a venue for guided hikes and other community events hosted by partner organizations.

The NPS will assist the Milford Experimental Forest trail committee with public outreach and consensus-building on trail location and planning; assist with developing a volunteer corps and work on engaging youth in the program. The amount of the grant is unclear.

If you have an idea for a local recreation or conservation project, the NPS may be able to help. Applications for 2015 projects are due by Aug. 1. Visit nps.gov/rtca for more information and to apply.